Welcome to Rule City

Mu Ai hadn’t slept a wink, yet she felt no trace of fatigue. With a few hours left before the setting spray’s effect wore off, she didn’t even need to touch up her makeup. As the light of the Scarlet Moon gave way to daylight, she wandered around the village, expanding her map.

When the morning bell finally rang, Mu Ai found a hidden spot, pulled out some bread and water, and began her breakfast. In this Instance, players had a hunger meter; if they got hungry, they needed to eat, and if they got thirsty, they needed to drink. Food supplies were crucial, which was one reason players diligently participated in projects.

Of course, they could bring their own food and water like Mu Ai, avoiding NPC control. However, for those barely scraping by, the cost of food and water was a burden they preferred not to bear, especially when the Instance offered free meals that were quite decent.

After finishing her meal, Mu Ai saw people emerging from their houses. She carefully packed away her wrappers and leftover water, ensuring no trace of food remained, then quickly left her hiding spot, heading toward the village square.

The tours began at 7 a.m. sharp, with multiple options available. There was no need to compete; everyone could participate, but the more projects completed, the higher the score, leading to richer rewards upon leaving the Instance.

Jin-Ge didn’t allow those outside his small group to take on many projects. This shortcut to rewards was reserved for him and his team; others brought in had no such privilege-and they didn’t want it. Even with guides, the projects were risky and physically painful.

No one wanted extra pain, so they willingly handed over opportunities to bolster their finances.

Mu Ai arrived at the square before 7 a.m.; others were likely still on their way. She sat idly in a corner, pulling out the system-issued phone.

The phone was almost barren; the contact list was empty, and there was only one message about successful registration. The only app was “Exciting Travel,” a travel app.

With nothing better to do, Mu Ai opened the app to see what it offered. The interface was refreshingly clean, with various locations and prices listed, much like real-world travel apps.

Curious, she typed “Scarlet Moon Village” into the search bar, only to find a 100% false advertisement about the place.

Smirking, Mu Ai had a new idea. She searched through the app and finally found the [Online Customer Service] button in an inconspicuous corner, which she promptly clicked.

[Customer Service 4567] Hello, this is Exciting Travel Customer Service, number 4567. How can I assist you today? If you’re looking for popular travel destinations, I recommend the Hot Springs Town, known for its excellent hot springs and wine specialties, currently at a great price.

[Mu Ai] I want to report false advertising for a tourist spot.

[Customer Service 4567] Alright, if you’re not interested in a relaxing hot spring trip, how about an exciting castle adventure? It’s a short trip and has never received a negative review since its opening.

[Mu Ai] I’d rate your service zero stars (smile).

[Customer Service 4567] Sorry, sorry, that’s just a habit. Many customers just want to inquire. Let me see your issue… Where is the false advertising?

[Mu Ai] Scarlet Moon Village. The scenery isn’t beautiful at all, and there’s nothing unique. The villagers are rude and obnoxious, making noise all night so I couldn’t sleep. They force tourists to participate in projects, and if you refuse, they breach the contract by not providing meals. In severe cases, they don’t even offer a place to stay, leaving guests to sleep on the street.

[Customer Service 4567] Understood. We’ll send someone to investigate. Do you have any other issues?

[Mu Ai] How soon will I get feedback?

[Customer Service 4567] Ah, usually within 3… no, usually within 7 days.

[Mu Ai] Alright, I hope you follow through. Otherwise, I’ll continue to report you for “promoting false advertising” until your app is taken down (smile).

[Customer Service 4567] (sweating) Understood, ma’am. Our investigators are top-notch. Rest assured, you’ll be notified as soon as there’s a result. Could you leave your contact information?

Mu Ai left her phone number from Guize City. Regardless of the outcome, she could use their feedback to verify what Xiao Hong had mentioned-the Instance and Guize City were connected, with some degree of interaction.

Hearing footsteps, Mu Ai calmly closed the app, pocketed her phone, and put on a “finally, someone’s here” expression.

“Why are you here so early?” Jin-Ge and his crew were the first to arrive. Seeing Mu Ai, he frowned and asked, “Where are your roommates? Why didn’t you come with them?”

Mu Ai fidgeted nervously, her voice timid, “I-I don’t get along with them. They didn’t want to bring me, so I came alone.”

Jin-Ge neither confirmed nor denied her words, merely grunting in acknowledgment before changing the subject. “Once we’re back, your wife is no longer your concern, got it? Don’t bother her, or I’ll deal with you.”

“Yes, yes, I understand. I won’t bother her,” Mu Ai nodded repeatedly, realizing the woman had likely struck a deal with Jin-Ge to get rid of her husband. Hesitantly, she asked, “What about her…”

Jin-Ge looked at Mu Ai as if he were a dead man, devoid of sympathy and full of disdain. “Don’t think about it. She didn’t join another team; she went to a Random Instance.”

The implication was clear: no matter the reason, the woman had chosen the harder path, and the man Mu Ai was impersonating was doomed.

Mu Ai worried whether Meng Hao and Ivan had already dealt with the man. If so, the woman would lose her target for revenge. Hopefully, they hadn’t been too harsh… Either way, she’d inform the woman once they returned, for closure’s sake.

Jin-Ge mistook Mu Ai’s silence for fear and grew impatient with the coward, turning to chat with his crew, ignoring the man entirely.

Mu Ai was glad to be underestimated, feigning a worried look as she stood aside, lost in thought. A few minutes later, others began arriving.

Facing the upcoming projects, everyone’s expressions were grim, especially the four who shared accommodations with Mu Ai.

Among them, Zhang-Ge approached Jin-Ge, seemingly to report something, but before he could, the NPC hosting the project appeared, demanding silence for the briefing.

It seemed the noise only affected those in the same courtyard. As Mu Ai listened to the NPC explain the project rules, she observed the others’ expressions, quickly concluding that her theory was correct.

The houses protected NPCs but also formed a barrier, blocking external information at night. Otherwise, the villagers would have been alerted by the previous night’s screams.

Since neither players nor NPCs reacted unusually, Mu Ai’s hypothesis was validated. This was good; if they had united, she would have needed a new plan.

Today’s projects included seven options: five free and two paid:

Feed the Animals (Paid, 2 people)
Watch an Outdoor Movie (Free, 10 people)
Experience Washing Clothes by the Creek (Free, 5 people)
Fire Drill (Free, 10 people)
Visit the Children’s Park (Paid, 2 people)
Tour the Village Museum (Free, 10 people)
Observe the Magical Murals (Free, 10 people)

Besides Mu Ai, there were eight newcomers who hadn’t been to this Instance before. After last night, they likely had their own choices, waiting for Jin-Ge and his group to register before daring to compete for the project tokens.

Then, as Jin-Ge picked up the “Feed the Animals” token and handed 10 Purple Coins to the NPC, Mu Ai seized the moment. Before his crew could react, she swiftly grabbed the token and handed over her prepared Purple Coins to the NPC.

Mu Ai’s actions were undoubtedly bold. While the NPC silently departed, the players were left in a tense atmosphere. Some tugged at Mu Ai’s clothes, urging her to apologize and return the token to Jin-Ge, while others watched with schadenfreude, eager to see how the disliked man would handle the situation.

Mu Ai stammered, “S-sorry, I didn’t know… I just wanted to be on Jin-Ge’s team. It seemed safer…”

Her voice trailed off, as if genuinely motivated by that reason. The player who lost the task spat on the ground in frustration but had no other recourse. Paid projects were determined by payment and obtaining the token, unlike free ones, which could be exchanged privately before starting.

“Don’t let it happen again.” Jin-Ge’s face betrayed no emotion. He stared at Mu Ai for a few seconds before tossing out the warning and turning away. “Don’t just stand there, follow me!”

“Y-yes!” Mu Ai hurried to catch up, like a schemer whose plan had succeeded, walking further away under envious or disdainful gazes.

[Feeding the Animals Guidelines:

The animals will remain within the enclosure.
There are five animals to feed, and only five in the park.
All animals are white. If you see an animal of a different color, back away immediately and do not feed it.
The animals to be fed are herbivores. If you encounter carnivores, don’t panic. First, check if they’re within the enclosure. If they are, leave quickly and do not feed any animals in that enclosure, as it will trigger a strong feeding response.

If not in the enclosure, feed all your feed to them and run in the opposite direction without looking back.

If an animal gives birth while feeding, do not look directly at live births. For egg-laying, take the third egg and give it to the next animal you see.
Feeding animals can be a joyful experience. We hope you maintain this joy until the tour ends.]